It was Thursday.

The day passed in a blur, each hour blending into the next. No matter how hard I tried to distract myself, my thoughts kept shifting to the study session that was soon approaching.

There was no point in denying how I felt. The thought of being tutored by Nicole filled me with immense dread. Being around someone who disliked me as much as she did felt more daunting than any test.

I wonder if she'll be as mean as always.

...

No. Probably worse.

The walk to the library was short. Even though I'd seen the building from the outside a few times, it was my first time stepping inside.

The library was even more impressive than I imagined. High ceilings arched overhead, and rows upon rows of bookshelves stretched before me. The scent of old books and polished wood filled the air, creating an atmosphere of quiet focus. It was a far cry from the noisy cafeteria I just came from.

Hmm... The library seems nice. Maybe I should start coming more often.

As I entered the study area, I spotted Nicole and Zach at one of the tables. Nicole's sharp voice cut through the silence as soon as she saw me.

"Ahem... You're late."

I glanced at my watch. It was exactly 6 PM.

"Um. Didn't we agree to meet at 6?"

"Zach and I have been here since 5:45. Isn't that right, Zach?"

"Oh, I didn't mind waiting," Zach said quickly, giving me a small, hesitant smile. He seemed eager to avoid any confrontation.

Nicole shook her head. "Nonsense... In the military, it's courteous to show up at least fifteen minutes before a meeting."

"Well, good thing this isn't the military," I replied, trying to keep my voice even.

Nicole shot me a look of exasperation.

"Sigh... Instead of wasting my time, why don't you take a seat?"

I slid into a chair, feeling the tension already building.

Nicole took out a large folder from her bag and handed us two booklets. She handed one to me and the other to Zach.

"In these booklets, you'll find a mock test I put together with questions from the three subjects we'll be tested on. I want you both to try and write the test to the best of your abilities. Based on your results, I'll be able to identify the areas where you need help. Are there any questions?"

Zach and I shook our heads.

Nicole glanced at her watch. "In about ten seconds, it'll be 6:03. You'll both have the next hour to write the test... Begin!"

The moment I opened the booklet, my eyes widened in surprise. The mock test was nothing like I'd imagined. It was meticulously designed. If I didn't know better, I would have sworn it was an official exam.

As I scanned through the questions, my initial skepticism about Nicole began to waver. It was clear she had invested a great deal of effort into creating this test. Each question was thoughtfully crafted, covering a broad range of topics. I couldn't help but be impressed by her dedication. She was taking her role seriously, and I had to respect that.

I started answering the questions, fully aware that my performance on this test would determine how much additional work Nicole would give me. I needed a grade that was higher than my average but not so high that it would draw suspicion.

Hmm... What grade should I aim for?

A B+ perhaps...

Time seemed to fly by, and before I knew it, Nicole cleared her throat.

"Alright... Time's up! Hand in your booklets."

I handed in my test first, feeling a mixture of relief and apprehension. Even though the test had one or two interesting questions, I didn't think it was too hard. Zach, on the other hand, seemed nervous as he returned his test. He didn't look too confident with his result.

Without wasting another second, Nicole took out a red pen and immediately began marking our tests.